Combined liquid-level indicator and controller



J. DIXON June 5, 1945.

COMBINED LIQUID-LEVEL INDICATOR AND CONTRGLLER Filed April 12, 1944 SWW/wim, Jona/U70?? ,Dixon Patented June 5, 1945 COMBINED LIQUID-LEVEL INDICATOR AND CONTROLLER C Jonathan Dixon, Catonsville, Md.

Application April 12, 1944, Serial No.f530',656

(Cl. 20o-84) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to floatfcontrolled devices, and especially to a combined liquid-level indicator and controller; and while this invention is especially designed for use in oil-feeding *and`v burning systems, it is usable and practicaljin automatically regulating the liquid-level in any system where liquid iS drawn from a tank solely by electrically operated means.

One object of this inventionis to utilize a previously known form of liquid-level gauge or indicator, and, by slight modifications thereof and additions thereto, to adapt it to serve'as a Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the tank, showing the float-lever and float in position at low-level or the liquid where r`the electric power is Aautomatically cut off, also showing conventional forms of motor-generator and pump which latter is inopen communication with the lower portion ofthe tank through an outlet-pipe. A y .s y

Fig. 3 is a detail-assembly view of a modied lform of actuating arm and `connecting means on opposite sides of the diaphragm to which they are l.secured considerable portion of an effective andpractical fautomatic means to cut off the velectric current that supplies power for pumpingliquid from a supply-tank, thereby minimizing the cost of an automatic low-level regulator without detracting from the utility of the liquid-level indicator.`

Another object of the invention is" t0 provide ua compact unitary structure that i's"attachable directly on the supply tank, including a support or housing thatcontains an electric switch, and also includes a flexible diaphragm that is properly disposed and secured for preventing combustible or other detrimental gas from passing from the casing of the liquid-level indicator toy the housing that contains the electric switch.f Another object is to provide, in a devicel ofjthe character above-described, a unitary structure` that includes an integral element thetservesl las aclosure for an opening in the supplytank,"pro vided with means to removably secure it invits i `Fig. 4 isa top plan view of the main portion of an integral element such as shown in section in Figs. l and 2 y Referring .to this drawing in detail, in which,

similar reference numerals refer to similar parts 1. throughout the several views, the invention is l' described in detail as follows.

A conventional form of tank 5 has its lower end or bottom portion in open communication with a pump 6 through the medium of an outlet-pipe l; and a very important purpose of this inventionwjis to prevent the lower-level ofliquid from getting down to the lower end of the outlet-pipe,

f therebyA to continually keep sullicient liquid in the tank to air-seal said outlet-pipe; for experience f has-shown that more than one serious disad.-

vantage andcause of considerable expense. and inconvenience resultsl from admission oi' air or gas Sin the pump and inA the pipes etc. that lead to normal position over said opening, also provided with a guide-opening or bearing for the upright rod that carries the indicator-head, and alsoin-v cludes a socket in which is secured a iulcruxrr-rod and from'the pump, especially in the case of oilfeeding to oilrbilmins devices.

A conventional 'form of motor-generator is shown 'at 8V connected to the pump 6 by a belt 9 and having electric terminals or wires I0 that lead to to which the oat-lever is pivotally connected; the j float and the pivotal connections of the float-lever being of such dimensions and arrangement that they can 4be passed inward andf'outward thru the said opening when the said integral element is detached from the supply tank.

Other objects and important features are pointed out or implied in the followingdetails of description, in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the central part of a unitary supporting and guiding structure having therein certain features of my invention and other features that show the relation between those that control and those that are controlled, also showing screws for securing this unitary structure to the tank from which oil or other liquid is to be drawn by electric power to be controlled.

'n and from a conventional form of switch Il which (in Fig. l) is shown closed-and normally secured in closed position by a spring-arm I2, these elements `Il and i2 being secured on a wall of a housing I3 whose bottom is centrally apertured at |3a and excentrically apertured at I3b, only two ofA the'fourapertures lib being here in view; and around the central opening there is an annular ridge |30 for containing the upper end of a gage-glass or similar transparent casingelement I I through which may be seen the depthindicator or liquid-level indicator that consists of a rod I5 and an indicator-head I6 which latter has (prefers-bly, but not essentially) an opening IBa therethrough.

The lower end of the transparent element I4 is seated on the integral element I1 whose annular ridge ila surrounds the lower end of the element I4, and the element I1 has s central opening or guide-bearing 11b through which the rod Il is projecting a considerable distance (though here shown with a portion broken away). A pivot or float-actuated means I8 operatively connects the .float-lever I to the upright rod or indicatorrod I5. A fulcrum-rod 2l has its upper end seated and secured in a socket |1c while its lower end is pivotally connected at 2| to the float-lever i! that has the iloat Ila united therewith. The liquid 22, at its minimum level or lowest level, is supporting the iloat at its lowest position in Fig. 2, so the indicator head II is at the lowermost position shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, thereat keeping down the iree end of the spring l2 so the switch Il is then open, the motor-generator inactive, and the pump Vl not operating; so the owner or user then knows that the tank must be replenished with Voilor liquidbeforemore can be drawn from the tank; and'canfalso know that no air has entered-the pipes vthat-connect .to

dicatnr-rod Il and its pivot or connecting means Il in cooperation with the elements I9, Isa, and 2|. The dual-function means not only effectl opening of the switch, but also closes it by inherent springiness of the elements I 2 and 25, while preventing gas from passing from the chamber Il to the switch Il and thereby eliminating danger oi' a spark from the switch igniting gas in the switch-chamber or in the housing il.

'Though I have described this embodiment of my invention quite specifically, I lhave no intention to limit my patent-protection to these speciilc details, for the invention is susceptible of numerous modiiications within the scope of the inventive ideas as implied and claimed.

I claim the following as my invention:

1,- 'In a host-controlled device, a liquid-level inl fdi'cator that includes a longitudinally movable rod the pump, such `knowledge being kimparted bythe' 1 i motor-generator being stopped and inability to j..

start it. Oi course, however, the stopping of the' having thereon an indicator-head, float-actuated te`nds,' anelectric switch secured to 4Said supportelectric power can be averted by care oftheowner automatic regulator is lacking. f

It should. beg understood um the element' n isV ing and guiding,"structure,v spring-means. on said supporting andv guiding 'structure and normally in proper tokeep'said switch closed, consecured in place, Where shown in Fig. 2, by means of screws 23 (in Fig. 1) that extend `thru screwholes I1d (Fig. 4) of which thereare preter-abiy four, though only twoiare seen in the drawing. Moreover, there are preferably four bolt-holes" I1e visible in the drawing; and-these bolts extend i 5 spring-means, land'fan `Varm. operatively engaged with said connecting-means and having an abutment in aprop'er-position to becomeengaged with and moved by said indicator-head toa proper po- ,'sition tor cooperating with said connecting means .so as to bend said-springmeans from VitsI springto receive 'four bolts 24V of which onlyV two are 2 .In agfloat-controlled ldevice for controlling an electric Switch. a liquid-indicatorthat includes A' alvertically' disposed rod provided with an indithrough the holes 13b and'arejprovided with nuts 24a; so the elements 13, I ,1 2 4'and2lu are colnbined to form clamping means-for tightlysec'uring the marginal portion of .the diaphragm. 25

between the elements .l'tandf-Ifl' s'o as to hermetically seal the opening "lia, rforthough the Adiaphragm is' centrally apertured, such aperture is elosedbya screw 28 (or 26u01. Fig. l)v and a 'onoator-head and with float-actuated means to con- 0.nect it to'. a Boat-lever, and atransparent casing .4

in which theindicator-'head is movable by said lrod and float-actuated means,' in. combination with-a exible diaphragm, clamping means ennesting element 21 in combination with 'nuts 2l. .Y

The upper end of the element 21 is secured tothe switch-controlling spring I2 by aA screw," or by I therefrom and terminates in an abutment lilav at its lower end, such abutment being in a proper position to be pushed downward by its contact with the indicator-head when the latter moves to the position shown in broken lines near'the element l1. The combination o! elements 2l, 21, 29 and 28; or 28a 21, 2l and 29, may be vmore broadly termed connecting means' to correlate the spring l2, diaphragm 2l and arm 30 so as to unite them into a dual-function means in cooperative relation to the elements Il and I'I for eiecting the opening of the electric switch by downward movement of the indicator-head to its lowermost position, such downward movement being float-controlled thru the medium of the ingagedyth the margin of said diaphragm and casing So as .t0 hermetically seal an end of the casing. a spring normally in proper position to Vkeeptheelectric switch closed, an upright arm an abutment at its lower end-portion and a proper position to become engaged with and moveddown with said indicator-head when said 'float-actuated means is lowered to a predetermined position, and connecting means engaged with saidvarm and diaphragm and spring s'o as to bend said spring from its switch-controlling positionwhen the naat-actuated means is lowered to said predetermined position. I

3. The combination dened by claim 1, said supporting -and guiding structure comprising a vcasing in which said indicator-head and abutment are supported, a diaphragm secured in a .proper relation to hermetically seal the upper end of said casing, said connecting-means being secured to the central part of said diaphragm and extending upward to said spring and downward to said arm, ior purposes specified.

JONATHAN DIXON. 

